Fireworks expected in World Cup semifinals

10 July 2018, 10:45 | Charlene Valdez

Fireworks expected in World Cup semifinals

Young believes the fact England saw off Sweden inside 90 minutes might be enough to give them the edge in Moscow. Along with Ivan Rakitic, the pair are lynchpins in the team's most deadly territory, and defender Harry Maguire identified them as players which England's defenders will also have to keep an eye on. Add World Cup as an interest to stay up to date on the latest World Cup news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

The penalty shootout win against hosts Russian Federation in the quarter-finals on Sunday seems to have gone a long way towards achieving that.

After both seeing off South American opposition in the last eight, Belgium and France meet for a place in the 2018 World Cup final in Saint-Petersburg.

For the first time in 28 years - and only the third time in history - an England team will be present in the last-four at football's global showpiece, Gareth Southgate's team having seen off Sweden in Saturday's quarter-final.

"Straight after that game you want the floor to eat you up".

Several hundred fans from Slavonski Brod watched the shootout on big screens in the grounds of Brod Fortress on a bar tab provided by hometown hero - and the team's star striker - Mario Mandzukic.

"Recovery is key" was the message which had been emblazoned across England's social media outlets on Sunday.

Football may not be the only thing "coming home" this month as England boss Gareth Southgate's World Cup waistcoat is being sought by the Museum of London. If we had to play two big teams in close succession, that's very hard.

England have been rewriting history in Russian Federation, and Southgate is hoping there will be more to come as they play their most important World Cup game since losing to West Germany on penalties in the semi-finals of Italia '90.

If Vrsaljko does not make it, one option for Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic will be to bring Vedran Corluka into central defence and push Domagoj Vida out to right-back.

"I think they (England) have been fantastic, a breath of fresh air". After he retired, he turned to coaching and, ultimately, became interim manager in 2016 when England's former team manager Sam Allardyce lost his job amidst allegations of improper conduct.

A Glaswegian who came through the academy at Rangers, Russell works with England's forwards and has been praised for helping the team score more goals from set-pieces.